Tackling Heterogeneity with DNA MethylationFebruary 12, 2013Heterogeneity adds value to our culture in numerous ways, but when it comes to analyzing large-scale case/control studies with blood, heterogeneity can be more frustrating than a Rubik’s Cube. Since blood is an easy-to-get, relatively noninvasive specimen, it’s ideal for disease diagnosis and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments. Scientists have reported that DNA methylation […]
The Epigenetics of Organ TransplantationJanuary 31, 2013Dr. Daniel Salomon discusses the state of organ transplants, what obstacles exist, and how epigenetics might be central to improving long-term health in patients. The Challenges in Transplantation My background is in transplantation medicine, transplantation immunology. And my interests are to change the way we manage patients. There’s a huge series of challenges right […]
MBD-SNP Analysis Shows that Prostate Cancer is PersonalJanuary 28, 2013These days, everyone wants to stand out. Just look at Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj—in fact, you can’t not look at them. It turns out that metastatic prostate cancer tumors also stand out from patient to patient, as long as you know where to look. A team of Johns Hopkins researchers used methyl-binding enrichment and […]
DNA Methylation Map Based on Data from 82 Human Cell Lines and TissuesJanuary 21, 2013Christmas has come and gone, but the ENCODE Project is the gift that keeps on giving. Using samples and data from ENCODE (in combo with their own data), researchers have come up with a single-base resolution map of DNA methylation across 82 human cell lines and tissues, including many cancers. With the ever increasing DNA methylation data […]
MeCP2 Puts 5hmC in a Bind in Active Neuronal GenesJanuary 7, 2013A good actor can play very different roles and still make you believe in the character. For example, who knew Wolverine could emote and sing, like Hugh Jackman does in Les Misérables? Just the same, it turns out that MeCP2, a protein thought to repress transcription by binding to 5mC (5-methylcytosine, actually seems to encourage […]
Top Epigenetics & ncRNA Conference Picks for Winter 2013December 27, 2012We’re on the verge of 2013. For those of you who want to up your epigenetics research game and have some fun in the process, we’ve got conferences you should definitely check out. The year starts off a little quiet on the numbers front, but the quality more than makes up for it. January […]
Get Tissue-Specific with EMD Millipore’s CpGenome™ 5-hmC Quantitation KitDecember 26, 2012One of the few things epigenetics researchers know for sure about 5-hmC, is that it’s highly variable amongst different types of tissues and cell types. So where does your favorite sample fall on the 5-hmC quantity spectrum? Thanks to the new CpGenomeTM 5-hmC Quantitation Kit from EMD Millipore that question is easier than ever to […]
Hypermethylation in miRNA 26a Provides New Route in Prostate Cancer ProgressionDecember 12, 2012There’s usually more than one right way to get where you want to go. Unless of course, you’re using Apple Maps, then all routes are questionable, but at least have a pretty interface. It turns out there are at least two ways to wind up with prostate cancer, and neither are that attractive—having a gene […]
5hmC Analysis TimelineDecember 10, 2012EpiGenie has probably covered developments in 5hmC more than any topic the last couple of years, so we’ve compiled this timeline for you. Scroll along to see what you may have missed if you’ve been out of the loop or lab for a sabbatical.
New and Improved: Multiplexed Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS)December 7, 2012These days, we’re all about multi-tasking—talking on our cell phones while placing our cappuccino order at Starbucks and tweeting about it all on our tablets. In that same vein, researchers report an optimized protocol for multi-tasking (well, technically “multiplexing”) reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) for ramped-up DNA methylation data. RRBS is great, churning out methylation […]
